Information processing apparatus, method of controlling the information processing apparatus, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An information processing apparatus comprises a plurality of network interface that are connectable to respective networks differing from each other; at least one memory that stores a set of instructions; and at least one processor that executes the instructions, the instructions, when executed, causing the information processing apparatus to perform operations comprising: setting, based on a user input, a network interface used for a given function, and a communication parameter of each network interface for a case that the each network interface is used for the given function; and executing the given function by using the set network interface by the setting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatusthat includes a plurality of network interfaces and can be connected toa plurality of networks simultaneously. The present invention alsorelates to a method of controlling the information processing apparatus,and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, the security and functionality required for networksare increasingly becoming complicated, and accordingly configurations inwhich a plurality of local area networks (LANs) are separately used inoffices and commercial facilities have been widely used. Therefore, theinformation processing apparatus to be used is required to provide theservice to a plurality of LANs. Japanese Patent No. 4032814 discloses aconfiguration in which one information processing apparatus is providedwith a plurality of network interfaces. As network configurations, thereare redundant configurations in which the same information device isconnected to the same network by using a plurality of networkinterfaces, and configurations in which an information device is sharedby connecting to different networks by using respective networkinterfaces. For such information devices, a transmitting function oftransmitting device information to a particular information device byusing any of the plurality of interfaces is known.

Meanwhile, a typical name resolution method for the transmissiondestination achieves a name resolution for only one connection LAN. Forexample, a name resolution is achieved in such a manner that a terminalsends a name resolution request packet to a name resolution server (DNSserver) connected to via one LAN, and the DNS server outputs a reply tothe terminal as a name resolution response packet after the nameresolution. Note that DNS is an abbreviation of Domain Name Service.Typically, a communication terminal having a client function of DNS nameresolution can use a plurality of DNS servers as preparation for afailure of the DNS server or the like. For example, in the case that noname resolution response packet is sent from the preferred DNS server, aname resolution request is made to an alternative DNS server. However, aconfiguration that uses a preferred DNS server and an alternative DNSserver is for redundancy, and therefore in the case that a responseindicating that an IP address cannot be obtained from the preferred DNSserver is returned, such a result is employed. That is, in the case thatan IP address cannot be obtained from the name resolution response fromthe preferred DNS server, the DNS client terminal determines that thename resolution has failed and does not make a name resolution requestto the alternative DNS server.

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has the followingproblems. For example, in the case that an information device issimultaneously connected to a plurality of independent networks so as toperform a name resolution in each network, the name resolution method ofthe above-mentioned conventional technology cannot appropriately performthe name resolution in some situations. To be more specific, when an IPaddress cannot be obtained from the name resolution result of theresponse of the preferred DNS server to a certain name resolutionrequest, the information device operates as though a name resolutionfailure has occurred and does not make a name resolution request to analternative DNS server. In this case, it is not possible to execute thename resolution of a communication terminal connected with a network inwhich the DNS server set as the preferred DNS server is not disposed.For the above-mentioned reason and the like, a given function cannot beused in some situations. Under such circumstances, there is a demand fora configuration for appropriately setting a communication parameter incommunication lines adaptable to communication errors and the like,while controlling interfaces such that available interfaces can beselected from among a plurality of interfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention enables realization of a configuration forappropriately setting a communication parameter of an interface used fora given function in an apparatus that can connect a plurality ofinterfaces to different networks. The present invention also enablesrealization of a configuration for achieving communications with aparticular transmission destination even when a name resolution cannotbe achieved in a given network.

One aspect of the present invention provides an information processingapparatus comprising: a plurality of network interface that areconnectable to respective networks differing from each other; at leastone memory that stores a set of instructions; and at least one processorthat executes the instructions, the instructions, when executed, causingthe information processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:setting, based on a user input, a network interface used for a givenfunction, and a communication parameter of each network interface for acase that the each network interface is used for the given function; andexecuting the given function by using the set network interface by thesetting.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of controllingan information processing apparatus, the information processingapparatus comprising a plurality of network interface that areconnectable to respective networks differing from each other, the methodcomprising: setting, based on a user input, a network interface used fora given function, and a communication parameter of each networkinterface for a case that the each network interface is used for thegiven function; and executing the given function by using the setnetwork interface by the setting.

Still another aspect of the present invention provides a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causinga computer to execute a method of controlling an information processingapparatus, the information processing apparatus comprising a pluralityof network interface that are connectable to respective networksdiffering from each other, the method comprising: setting, based on auser input, a network interface used for a given function, and acommunication parameter of each network interface for a case that theeach network interface is used for the given function; and executing thegiven function by using the set network interface by the setting.

Further features of the present invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configuration of a connection configurationof an information device and an MFP according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates an internal configuration of a controller unit of theMFP according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block configuration of software executed in thecontroller of the MFP according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a screen configuration for menu setting according tothe embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates a screen configuration of intermediate settingaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a screen configuration of network setting accordingto the embodiment.

FIG. 7 illustrates a screen configuration for interface selectionsetting according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a screen configuration for main line settingaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates a screen configuration for sub line setting accordingto the embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a screen configuration for DNS server settingaccording to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates a screen configuration for information transmissionsetting according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of a procedure of a process of determining adefault gateway according to the embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a procedure of a process of determining atransmission destination of device information according to theembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that therelative arrangement of the components, the numerical expressions andnumerical values set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scopeof the present invention unless it is specifically stated otherwise.

First Embodiment

System Configuration

A first embodiment of the present invention is described below withreference to the accompanying drawings. While an exemplarymultifunctional device (MFP) is described in the embodiment, thetechnique of the present invention is applicable to informationprocessing apparatuses other than multifunctional devices. In addition,while an exemplary case that the technique of the present invention isapplied in an office is described in the embodiment, the technique ofthe present invention is applicable to other systems of any scale on theInternet. In addition, while a function of transmitting deviceinformation to a particular information device is described as anexample of a given function in the present embodiment, the presentembodiment is applicable to a function using a communication line of aplurality of communication lines. In addition, the technique of thepresent invention is also applicable to a system that transmits a givenpacket to a given information device connected via a LAN.

First, with reference to FIG. 1, a system configuration representing aconnection configuration of an information device and an MFP accordingto the present embodiment is described. The system includes an MFP 100,a DNS server 110, information devices 120 and 130, an access point 140,and a DHCP server 170. The MFP 100, the DNS server 110, the informationdevice 120, and the DHCP server 170 are connected with one another via alocal area network (LAN) 150. The MFP 100 is connected with the accesspoint 140 in a wireless LAN mode, and is connected with a LAN 160 viathe access point 140. Also, the information device 130 is connected withthe LAN 160.

The MFP 100 is an example of an information processing apparatus. TheMFP 100 includes an operation unit 102 for input/output for the user, aprinter unit 103 for outputting electronic data onto a paper medium, ascanner unit 104 for reading a paper medium and converting it intoelectronic data, and a controller unit 101 for controlling the loads ofthe above-mentioned units. The operation unit 102, the printer unit 103,and the scanner unit 104 are connected with the controller unit 101, andachieve a function of a multifunctional device under the control of thecontroller unit 101.

Via the LAN 150, the DNS server 110 sends and/or receives a nameresolution request packet and a name resolution response packet betweenthe MFP 100 and the information device 120. Via the LAN 150, the DHCPserver 170 sends and/or receives a DHCP request packet and a DHCPresponse packet between the MFP 100 and the information device 120. Inaddition, by using any of a plurality of communication lines, the MFP100 of the present embodiment periodically or nonperiodically transmitsdevice information such as counter information and error information tothe information device set by the user, and stores logs.

The system is configured with two LANs, the LAN 150 and the LAN 160, andthe MFP 100 can be connected to the LANs 150 and 160. The LANs areprioritized. For example, the highest priority is given to the LAN 150,and the lowest priority is given to the LAN 160. While theabove-mentioned order of priority is employed in the present embodiment,the present invention may employ other orders of priority. In addition,while an exemplary configuration in which connections to two networks,wired and wireless networks, are established in the present embodiment,the type and number of the networks of the present invention are notlimited to this example. For example, any combination other than that ofthe present embodiment (such as a combination of one wired network andtwo wired networks, and a combination of one wired network, two wirednetworks, and a wireless network) may be employed. In addition, whileconfigurations corresponding to two network interfaces are provided asdevices, a particular network interface may be disabled depending on thesetting. While the LAN 150 is the network interface of highest prioritywhen both the LAN 150 and the LAN 160 are enabled, the LAN 160 is thenetwork interface of highest priority when only the LAN 160 is enabled.

Control Configuration of MFP

Next, a detailed exemplary configuration of the controller unit 101 ofthe MFP according to the present embodiment is described with referenceto FIG. 2. The controller unit 101 includes a CPU 201, a DRAM 202, anI/O controller 203, a SATA I/F 204, an HDD 205, and a network I/F 206.Further, the controller unit 101 includes a panel I/F 207, a printer I/F208, a scanner IX 209, a wired LAN device 210, and a wireless LAN device211.

The CPU 201 executes main arithmetic processing in the controller unit101. The CPU 201 is connected with the DRAM 202 through a bus. The DRAM202 is used by the CPU 201 as an operation memory for temporarilystoring data to be processed and program data representing a computationorder during a computation of the CPU 201. The CPU 201 is connected withthe I/O controller 203 through a bus.

The I/O controller 203 performs input/output for various devices inaccordance with an instruction of the CPU 201. The I/O controller 203 isconnected with the serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) I/F 204to which is connected to the HDD 205. The CPU 201 uses the HDD 205 topermanently store read document data, and programs for achievingfunctions of the MFP 100.

In addition, the I/O controller 203 is connected with the network I/F206. The wired LAN device 210 and the wireless LAN device 211 areconnected to the network I/F 206 as a plurality of communication lines.The CPU 201 controls the wired LAN device 210 via the network I/F 206 toestablish communications on the LAN 150. In addition, the CPU 201controls the wireless LAN device 211 via the network I/F 206 toestablish communications on the LAN 160. By using these communicationlines, the information transmission according to the present embodiment,which is described as an example of a given function, is performed. Notethat, while the information transmission is described as an example inthe present embodiment, any function using a communication line may alsobe employed.

In addition, the I/O controller 203 is connected with the panel I/F 207.The CPU 201 achieves input/output for the user on the operation unit 102via the panel I/F 207. Further, the I/O controller 203 is connected withthe printer IT 208 and the scanner I/F 209. The CPU 201 achieves aprocess of outputting a paper medium by using the printer unit 103 viathe printer I/F 208. The CPU 201 achieves a process of reading documentsby using the scanner unit 104 via the scanner I/F 209.

Software Configuration

Next, a configuration of software that is executed by the controllerunit 101 of the MFP 100 is described with reference to FIG. 3. For allthe software executed by the controller unit 101, the CPU 201 reads aprogram stored in the HDD 205 into the DRAM 202, and then executes theprogram. The controller unit 101 includes an operation control unit 301,a data storage unit 302, a job control unit 303, an image processingunit 304, a printing processing unit 305, a read processing unit 306, aninformation transmission unit 307, a name resolution control unit 308, aTCP/IP control unit 309, and a DHCP control unit 310.

The operation control unit 301 causes the operation unit 102 to displaya screen image for the user, and detects a user operation so as toexecute a process associated with a screen part such as a buttondisplayed on the screen. The data storage unit 302 stores data in theHDD 205 and reads stored data from the HDD 205 in response to a requestfrom another control unit. For example, when the user is changing acertain device setting, the operation control unit 301 detects thecontent input by the user through the operation unit 102, and the datastorage unit 302 stores it as a setting value in the HDD 205 in responseto a request from the operation control unit 301.

At the time when error occurs and/or at a transmission time for deviceinformation set in advance, the information transmission unit 307executes an information transmission process for the transmissiondestination of the device information designated in an informationtransmission setting screen 1101 illustrated in FIG. 11. In the casethat the transmission destination of the device information isdesignated by a fully qualified domain name (FQDN), the informationtransmission unit 307 acquires a transmission destination IP address bymaking a request for a name resolution process to the name resolutioncontrol unit 308. The information transmission unit 307 makes a request,to the TCP/IP control unit 309, for a process of transmitting the deviceinformation to the transmission destination IP address.

The name resolution control unit 308 resolves the IP address of thetransmission destination of the device information by executing a nameresolution process, and returns the IP address of the transmissiondestination of the device information to the information transmissionunit 307. The TCP/IP control unit 309 executes a process oftransmitting/receiving a network packet via the network I/F 206 inaccordance with an instruction of another control.

The DHCP control unit 310 executes a DHCP process and acquires an IPaddress, a subnet mask, and a default gateway from the DHCP server 170,and, sets the IP address, the subnet mask, and the default gateway. Thejob control unit 303 performs a job execution control in accordance withan instruction of another control unit. The image processing unit 304transforms image data into a format suitable for the use in accordancewith an instruction of the job control unit 303.

The printing processing unit 305 prints an image on a paper medium andoutputs it by means of the printer I/F 208 in accordance with aninstruction of the job control unit 303. The read processing unit 306reads a document placed on a platen glass or the like by means of thescanner I/F 209 in accordance with an instruction of the job controlunit 303. For example, when a copy function is executed, the operationcontrol unit 301 detects a start request of a copy function, andinstructs the job control unit 303 to perform copying. The job controlunit 303 acquires a scan image by instructing the read processing unit306 to read a document. Thereafter, the job control unit 303 instructsthe image processing unit 304 to convert the scan image into a formatsuitable for printing. Further, the job control unit 303 instructs theprinting processing unit 305 to perform printing, and outputs aresulting copy.

Exemplary Screen

Now, an exemplary operation screen displayed on the operation unit 102is described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. FIG. 4 illustrates amenu screen 401 for the user to provide an instruction for execution ofvarious functions provided by the MFP 100.

In the menu screen 401, buttons 402 to 405 are displayed such that thebuttons 402 to 405 can be selected. The button 402 is used by the userto provide an instruction for a copy function. The button 403 is used bythe user to provide an instruction for a scanning and storing function.The button 404 is used by the user to provide an instruction for ascanning and transmitting function. The button 405 is used by the userto provide an instruction for changing the setting of a device. When thebutton 405 is pressed, a setting screen 501 illustrated in FIG. 5 can bedisplayed on the operation unit 102.

FIG. 5 illustrates the setting screen 501 for the user to provide aninstruction for various settings. This screen, which does not includespecific setting items, is a middle-layer screen for guiding to specificsetting items. In the setting screen 501, buttons 502 to 504 aredisplayed such that the buttons 502 to 504 can be selected. By pressingthe button 502, a network setting screen 601 illustrated in FIG. 6 canbe displayed on the operation unit 102. By pressing the button 503, adevice setting screen not illustrated in the drawing can be displayed onthe operation unit 102. By pressing the button 504, a user settingscreen not illustrated in the drawing can be displayed on the operationunit 102.

FIG. 6 illustrates the network setting screen 601, which is amiddle-layer screen for the user to perform various network settings. Inthe network setting screen 601, buttons 602 to 606 are displayed suchthat buttons 602 to 606 can be selected. By pressing the button 602, aninterface selection setting screen 701 illustrated in FIG. 7 can bedisplayed on the operation unit 102. By pressing the button 603, a mainline setting screen 801 illustrated in FIG. 8 can be displayed on theoperation unit 102. By pressing the button 604, a sub line settingscreen 901 illustrated in FIG. 9 can be displayed on the operation unit102. By pressing the button 605, a DNS server setting screen 1001illustrated in FIG. 10 can be displayed on the operation unit 102. Bypressing the button 606, the information transmission setting screen1101 can be displayed on the operation unit 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates the interface selection setting screen 701 for theuser to select activation states of the wired LAN and the wireless LAN.When only wired 702 is selected, only the wired LAN operates and thewireless LAN does not operate. In the interface selection setting screen701, selecting parts 702 to 704 for selecting the communication methodare displayed such that the selecting parts 702 to 704 can be selected.When the only wired 702 is selected, only the wired LAN operates and thewireless LAN does not operate. When the only wireless 703 is selected,only the wireless LAN operates and the wired LAN does not operate. Inaddition, when the wired (main)+wireless (sub) 704 is selected, both thewired LAN and the wireless LAN simultaneously operate. While anexemplary case that the wired LAN is set to the main line and thewireless LAN is set to the sub line at the selection part 704 is given,the present invention is not limited to this example, and othercombinations may be applied. The selection parts 702, 703 and 704 areexclusive settings, and therefore only one of them can be selected. Bypressing a button 705, the setting selected by the user is stored in thedata storage unit 302, and then the display is transferred to thenetwork setting screen 601.

FIG. 8 illustrates the main line setting screen 801 for the user toprovide an instruction for a setting related to the IP address(communication parameter) for the main line. In the main line settingscreen 801, input parts 802 to 805 are displayed such that the user canselect the input parts 802 to 805. The user can input an arbitrary IPaddress at the IP address input part 802. The user can input anarbitrary subnet mask at the subnet mask input part 803. The user caninput an arbitrary default gateway at the default gateway input part804. The user can select ON/OFF of the DHCP at the DHCP input part 805.By pressing a button 806, the item selected at the main line settingscreen 801 can be stored in the data storage unit 302.

FIG. 9 illustrates the sub line setting screen 901 for the user toprovide an instruction for a setting related to the IP address(communication parameter) for the sub line. In the sub line settingscreen 901, input parts 902 to 904 are displayed such that the user canselect the input parts 902 to 904. The user can input an arbitrary IPaddress at the IP address input part 902. The user can input anarbitrary subnet mask at the subnet mask input part 903. The user canselect ON/OFF of the DHCP at the DHCP input part 904. By pressing abutton 905, the item selected at the sub line setting screen 901 can bestored in the data storage unit 302. The setting items of the defaultgateway provided in the main line setting screen 801 is not providedsince the functions are disabled in the sub line. In this manner, in thepresent embodiment, the functions of the sub line are limited in thecase that a plurality of lines are simultaneously enabled. It is alsopossible to disable functions on the sub line side, such as the DNS, the802.1x, the IP sec, the IP filter, the port filter, the MAC addressfilter, the SMB, the HTTP, the WebDAV, the FTP and the like. Note thatthe present invention is applicable to the case that the functions ofthe sub line are not limited.

FIG. 10 illustrates the DNS server setting screen 1001 for the user toprovide an instruction for the IP addresses of the preferred DNS serverand the alternative DNS server regardless of whether the main line orthe sub line. In the DNS server setting screen 1001, input parts 1002and 1003 are displayed such that the user input is allowed at the inputparts 1002 and 1003. The user can input an arbitrary DNS server IPaddress at the preferred DNS server input part 1002 and the alternativeDNS server input part 1003. By pressing the button 1004, the item inputat the DNS server setting screen 1001 is stored in the data storage unit302, and the display is transferred to the network setting screen 601.

FIG. 11 illustrates the information transmission setting screen 1101 forthe user to set the communication parameter of each line for a time whenthe information transmission unit 307 transmits device information. Inthe information transmission setting screen 1101, input parts 1102 to1105 are displayed such that the user input is allowed at the inputparts 1102 to 1105. In the interface selection input part 1102, the usercan select the main line or the sub line for the informationtransmission process in which the device information is transmitted. Theuser can input an arbitrary FQDN (domain name) or IP address at theinput part 1103 for the transmission destination of the main line. Theuser can input an arbitrary IP address at the input part 1104 for thedefault gateway of the sub line. The user cannot input FQDN, but caninput an arbitrary IP address at the input part 1105 for thetransmission destination of the sub line. By pressing a button 1106, thesetting input by the user is stored in the data storage unit 302, andthen the display is transferred to the network setting screen 601. Notethat the information transmission setting screen 1101 may be provided asa service mode that can be set by a service person. The service mode canbe transferred by a special method unknown to the user.

Determination of Gateway

Next, with reference to FIG. 12, a procedure of a process of determininga default gateway when the MFP 100 according to the present embodimenttransmits a packet to a given information device connected via the LAN150 or the LAN 160 (information transmission process) is described. Theprocesses described below are realized by the CPU 201 reading a programstored in the HDD 205 into the DRAM 202 and executing the program, forexample. Here, an exemplary case where the MFP 100 performs aninformation transmission process at the time when error occurs and/or ata periodic time for transmitting device information is described. Theinformation transmission unit 307 detects a transmission time for deviceinformation and/or occurrence of an error, and starts an informationtransmission process.

At S1201, the information transmission unit 307 acquires the informationset at the interface selection input part 1102 of the informationtransmission setting screen 1101 by referring to the data storage unit302, and determines whether the line used for performing the informationtransmission process is the main line or the sub line. When the mainline is used, the process proceeds to S1202, and the informationtransmission unit 307 acquires the information set at the DHCP inputpart 805 of the main line setting screen 801 by referring to the datastorage unit 302, and determines whether ON or OFF. In the case of ON,the process proceeds to S1203, and the information transmission unit 307performs an information transmission by using a default gateway alreadyacquired by DHCP, and terminates the processing. Prior to the start ofthis process flow, the process of acquiring the IP address, the subnetmask, and the default gateway in the case that the DHCP is in an onstate has been completed.

In the case of OFF at S1202, the process proceeds to S1204, and theinformation transmission unit 307 determines to use the information setat the default gateway input part 804 of the main line setting screen801 by referring to the data storage unit 302, and terminates theprocessing. In the case of the sub line at S1201, the informationtransmission unit 307 acquires, at S1205, the information set at theDHCP input part 904 of the sub line setting screen 901 by referring tothe data storage unit 302, and determines whether ON or OFF. In the caseof ON, the information transmission unit 307 determines, at S1206, touse the default gateway already acquired at the DHCP, and terminates theprocessing. In the case of OFF at S1205, the process proceeds to S1207,and the information transmission unit 307 determines to use theinformation set at the default gateway of the sub line 1104 of theinformation transmission setting screen 1101 by referring to the datastorage unit 302, and terminates the processing.

Note that, at S1206, the information transmission unit 307 may give ahigher priority to the default gateway of the sub line 1104 of theinformation transmission setting screen 1101 than the default gatewayalready acquired at the DHCP. In addition, at S1206 and S1207, both thedefault gateway already acquired at the DHCP and the default gateway setat the input part for the default gateway of the sub line 1104 of theinformation transmission setting screen 1101 may be sequentially used.In addition, the information transmission unit 307 determines thegateway used for transmission of device information in a flowchartillustrated in FIG. 12, determines the transmission destination of thedevice information in a flowchart illustrated in FIG. 13, andthereafter, actually transmits the information by using the determinedinformation. Note that although the transmission process is notillustrated in the drawing, the process is executed after the processesof the flowcharts of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 are completed. The order inwhich the processes of the flowcharts of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 areperformed is not limited.

Determination of Transmission Destination

Next, with reference to FIG. 13, a procedure of a process of determiningthe transmission destination of the device information when the MFP 100according to the present embodiment transmits a packet to a giveninformation device connected via the LAN 150 or the LAN 160 (informationtransmission process) is described. The processes described below areperformed when the CPU 201 reads a program stored in the HDD 205 to theDRAM 202, for example. Here, FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary case wherethe MFP 100 performs an information transmission process at the timewhen error occurs and/or at a periodic time for transmitting deviceinformation is described. The information transmission unit 307 detectsa transmission time for device information and/or occurrence of anerror, and starts an information transmission process.

At S1301, the information transmission unit 307 acquires the informationset at the interface selection input part 1102 of the informationtransmission setting screen 1101 by referring to the data storage unit302, and determines whether the line used for performing the informationtransmission process is the main line or the sub line. When the mainline is used, the process proceeds to S1302, and the informationtransmission unit 307 acquires the information set at the input part1103 of the device information transmission destination of the main lineof the information transmission setting screen 1101 by referring to thedata storage unit 302. Subsequently, at S1303, the informationtransmission unit 307 determines whether the information set at theinput part 1103 of the device information transmission destination ofthe main line is the FQDN or the IP address.

In the case of the FQDN, the process proceeds to S1304, and theinformation transmission unit 307 performs a process of the DNS, anddetermines to use, as the transmission destination of the deviceinformation, the resolved IP address, and, terminates the processing.Here, in the process of the DNS, a name resolution request istransmitted in accordance with the information of the DNS server set inthe DNS server setting screen 1001 illustrated in FIG. 10. Note that thename resolution is performed using an alternative DNS server when itcannot be acquired from the preferred DNS server. In the case of the IPaddress at S1303, the process proceeds to S1305, and the informationtransmission unit 307 determines to use, as the transmission destinationof the device information, the acquired IP address of the transmissiondestination input part 1103 of the device information of the main line,and terminates the processing.

When it is determined at S1301 that the sub line is used, the processproceeds to S1306, and the information transmission unit 307 acquiresthe information set at the input part 1105 of the device informationtransmission destination of the sub line of the information transmissionsetting screen 1101 by referring to the data storage unit 302.Subsequently, at S1307, the information transmission unit 307 determinesto use, as the transmission destination of the device information, theacquired IP address of the input part 1105 of the device informationtransmission destination of the sub line, and terminates the processing.Thereafter, the information transmission unit 307 transmits the deviceinformation and/or error information in accordance with the determinedgateway and transmission destination information.

As described above, the information processing apparatus according tothe present embodiment includes a plurality of communication lines thatcan be connected to respective networks differing from each other. Inaddition, in this information processing apparatus, a communication lineused for a given function and a communication parameter of eachcommunication line used for the given function are set in accordancewith a user input, and, in accordance with information thus set, thegiven function is executed using the communication line. According tothe present embodiment, in an apparatus in which a plurality ofinterfaces can be connected with different networks, a communicationparameter of an interface used for a given function can be appropriatelyset. In addition, in the invention of the subject application, thecommunication parameter can be individually set for each of the mainline and the sub line, and furthermore, an interface related to a givenfunction (transmission of device information) can be set. Thus, deviceinformation can be transmitted even when the name resolution has failedin one network.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2018-080819 filed on Apr. 19, 2018, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus having a device managementfunction for transmitting device information to an external server,comprising: a first network interface that performs an Internet Protocol(IP) communication; a second network interface that performs an IPcommunication, wherein a data communication using the second networkinterface is restricted as compared with a data communication using thefirst network interface in the printing apparatus; at least one memorythat stores a set of instructions; and at least one processor thatexecutes the instructions, the instructions, when executed, causing theprinting apparatus to perform operations comprising: set, as a firstsetting related to the device management function, a network interfaceto be used for a transmission of the device information; set, as asecond setting related to the device management function, addressinformation used for transmitting the device information via the secondnetwork interface; and transmit the device information to the externalserver by using the set network interface, wherein the transmission ofthe device information to the external server is performed using theaddress information set as the second setting in a case where a networkinterface to be used for transmitting the device information is set tobe the second network interface as the first setting, and wherein thetransmission of the device information to the external server isperformed without using the address information set as the secondsetting in a case where a network interface to be used for transmittingthe device information is set to be the first network interface as thefirst setting.
 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:a set communication parameter corresponding to the first networkinterface and a set communication parameter corresponding to the secondnetwork interface are different from each other.
 3. The printingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the address information set asthe second setting is address information of an IP address format. 4.The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the communicationparameter corresponding to the first network interface at least includesan IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, and information of aDHCP server; and the communication parameter corresponding to the secondnetwork interface includes an IP address, a subnet mask, and informationof a DHCP server but does not include a default gateway.
 5. The printingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device information of theprinting apparatus transmitted to the external server includes at leastan error status occurring in the printing apparatus.
 6. The printingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the device information of theprinting apparatus transmitted to the external server includes at leastinformation of a counter of the printing apparatus.
 7. The printingapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:display a setting screen capable of accepting a user operation forchanging the first setting and the second setting in accordance with anacceptance of a predetermined user operation.
 8. A method of controllinga printing apparatus having a device management function fortransmitting device information to an external server, the printingapparatus comprising a first network interface that performs an InternetProtocol (IP) communication and a second network interface that performsan IP communication, wherein a data communication using the secondnetwork interface is restricted as compared with a data communicationusing the first network interface in the printing apparatus, the methodcomprising: setting, as a first setting related to the device managementfunction, a network interface to be used for a transmission of thedevice information; setting, as a second setting related to the devicemanagement function, address information used for transmitting thedevice information via the second network interface; and transmittingthe device information to the external server by using the set networkinterface, wherein the transmission of the device information to theexternal server is performed using the address information set as thesecond setting in a case where a network interface to be used fortransmitting the device information is set to be the second networkinterface as the first setting, and wherein the transmission of thedevice information to the external server is performed without using theaddress information set as the second setting in a case where a networkinterface to be used for transmitting the device information is set tobe the first network interface as the first setting.
 9. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing a computer program for causinga computer to execute a method of controlling a printing apparatushaving a device management function for transmitting device informationto an external server, the printing apparatus comprising a first networkinterface that performs an Internet Protocol (IP) communication and asecond network interface that performs an IP communication, wherein adata communication using the second network interface is restricted ascompared with a data communication using the first network interface inthe printing apparatus, the method comprising: setting, as a firstsetting related to the device management function, a network interfaceto be used for a transmission of the device information; setting, as asecond setting related to the device management function, addressinformation used for transmitting the device information via the secondnetwork interface; and transmitting the device information to theexternal server by using the set network interface, wherein thetransmission of the device information to the external server isperformed using the address information set as the second setting in acase where a network interface to be used for transmitting the deviceinformation is set to be the second network interface as the firstsetting, and wherein the transmission of the device information to theexternal server is performed without using the address information setas the second setting in a case where a network interface to be used fortransmitting the device information is set to be the first networkinterface as the first setting.